Store front and awning assembly device



April 3, 1951 E. P. DAzzo 2,547,693

STORE FRONT AND AWNING ASSEMBLY DEVICE FZ i INVENTOR.

ERRoL E DAzzo April 3, 1951 STORE FRONT AND AWNING ASSEMBLY DVICE Filed July 50. 1948 f ERROL P D'Azzo Patented pr. 3, 1%51 SroeereoNT AND Agree @SSEMBLY Y 'l DEVI teureren a, mes e This invention relates to awning boxes.

.The invention aims to provide an improved awning box, 'of' substar'itiallyy water-tight construction yet capable of being expeditiously and inexpensively erected, and at the same time'a'n awning box having a forward dropflid and manually actuable' means' for positively' opening' the lid ivvhenY the awning is to be lowered 'and for positively closing theV lid after the vawning has been raised as'by rolling' it lup on afrollerV housed in the box.

A further feature of the invention is the provisionof an improved hinge-'mountfor the drop liti',V and one not including pintles or the like having to'be inserted land secured in place.

A' further' feature of the invention' is animproved sectional'construction for the' drop lid,

such that by the use of a few standard parts, fab ricable by' lthe extrusion method; the drop "'.lid may be-givenany length or width dimensions desird, according'assuch parts are variously comg Another object is to provide a construction including a Vtiemeans fonthe employeddroprlid sections" of practicable and low-cost type', together with securingmeans for thesepartsservingr to-maintain their coupling undersucht'ension that loosening of the'connections between-'the par'tsfis" rendered impossibleY over the Aeinzire life of the awningbx.

For A`further`comprehension of the invention, aridof` the objects and advantages'thereof, reference will 'be had tothe following description and f'accompanying drawings, and to the appendedclaimsi'n which the'various novelfeatures of the vinvention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings-'forminga material partof this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an awning box pursuant tothe invention,"'broken away'at its central portion, and showing' i the drop-.lid

' down.

Fig. 2 is a Vtransverse vertical sectional view; taken at an appropriatef'point along ,the length of the awning box, as onthe t1ine,2'-2 ofFig. .3.'

Fig. 3 is" a sectional view `taken on the-'line 3 3 ofrFig. 2. j

Fig; 4 is an enlarged detailed view' of ,thebottom portion of the upper section ofthe drop-lid as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the yline 5--5 of FigA.

Fig. .6 Ais. enlarged detailodview of tholowor seotionof monroe-lid gsbovvaioat Fie ,Tis asootionalyiowiekon on the linaje-.1 of Fig. 6.

.Referring to ,the drawing more in detail, i5 denotes` the main part of anl awning box adapted to.; bie connected to a storefront wall. Ashere illustrated this main `part of the box is lshown as of integralconstruction to providea top i6; 2; rear wall. l] and abottom l5; with this structure preferably made of light weight material such as. aluminum. Y Y f Y Wit-hin the boxl may be mounted the familiar roller` o n whichthe awning canvas o r other' material is rolled when the awningv isfraised. As is also familiar practice, said roller may be turned iuone direction or the other, to raise orv lower the awning,v by Vmeans of along rod` havinga crankflikenoset" near itsI lower end and at its upper 'end having aphook to 'be engagedwith a hook on thelower end of' a stub-shaft depending from: thezeear-oouple .or theA like .by way of which whensaid stub-shaft is rotated in one direction o1: the otheri'a rotative movement ina correspending ,direction is imparted ,tothe roller- "'lnxEig: isuoh stubrshoit iS indicated invdot and' cla-.Sh lines at .fAS `will be understood; however; the present Ainvention concerns itself with.v the improved awning `box as. hereinabov first d'osoribori- The prosent'invontion, therefore. maybe1used independently of the awning rais'- in'e apdloworingmoasinstalledmanzboapart 151s vShown as mounted at its Aloo..t.to1io wall L8 ori a foundation ,21. which may .bo .of wood.. having a forwardly downwardly sloniog .front portion Mirthe bottom Wall I8 having its forward edge located justin Yback of such olores .llloboxport l5. as .bv wav ,Grits roar woll 1.1.. `is'.suitably ASecured Ato the Storo Woll; oro ,the .foundation .2| lmovborostod os ,iodioaieo'on too of a ,cornice 122 `or the like" ovorIying Ltheentrance Vdoor'and front Windows ofthe store'r Sloop-` o -The top .of v,the ,drop-lid for the awning box Said vlio nivoiglly suspended .fromnth top' of tho oor by .o .hinge .meansxloier .to v be described in detail. is .Roioot .1v ombraod by )an-auxiliary meer@ .ipoorooratlne a channel fmomber 2,3. the ohomolof wh.,beroering.longituoiallv thereofy is .of specially shaped orosei-sootion as shown in Eig- .2, :and .rocker member ,241for .lying in, said channel and of Soooiollv ShopodoroSS-Sootion also asshownin Eig-,2-

The channel `Ir1 e: in}a e r' A=`23 is preferably made Separately ...iran .the moin., box ,port 15, 2mdis suitably oogneoied .to goed. .below the -top TIG at @Novation .i dioetos- 111, @redefine th box member l5, t 'des thereof many closed in bv ...er grs. negated gt 25 ao@ yir Fig. 1; and, finally, a Water-tight sheet 21 of metal or other suitable material may be applied as shown, and the same just beyond both plates 25 and 26 may be dipped downward to provide rain-water spillways.

The drop-lid is comprised of a number of parts all to extend horizontally and each of a constant cross-section, so that all of them may be extrusions of aluminum or like material. These parts, in the assembly thereof herein shown, comprise an upper section 28, a lower section 28', a panel 29, and two like clamp-bars 30 and 3l.

The rocker member 24 is shown as formed integral with the upper section 28; and also shown as formed integral with the lower section 28 is a bottom apron 32 having along its lower end a canted lip 33, so that, when the awning is extended and the drop-lid lowered as in the drawing, the awning canvas passes through a narrow passage with the lip 33 pressed down somewhat lightly thereon. The lip 33, while mainly laterally projected toward the interior of the awning box, is at the same time extended outwardly as at 34 to provide a spillway for rain-water when, with the awning retracted and wholly withdrawn into the awning box, the drop-lid is lowered.

As will be noted from Fig. 2, the main body of the section 28 is shaped to have rearwardly offlset therefrom an upper longitudinal rib 36 of T- shaped cross-section, a bottom longitudinal rib 31 of L-shaped cross-section, and below the root portion of said rib 31 a downwardly extending longitudinal groove 38. Between the said two ribs is provided a C-shaped channel 40. At its portion and at its side facing the interior of the channel 46, the T-head of the rib 36 has vertical serrations 38a, in Figs. 4 and 5; and at its side facing the interior of said chamber, the upstanding limb of the L-shaped rib 31 has similar serrations 31a, see Fig. 4.

The main body of the section 28 is shaped to have rearwardly offset therefrom an upper longitudinal rib 4l of L-shaped cross-section, this corresponding to the rib 31, and also a lower longitudinal rib 42 of T-shaped cross-section, this corresponding to the rib 3S, and, further, above the root portion of the rib 4I, an upwardly extending-groove 43, this groove corresponding to the groove 36. The rib 4| has serrations 4in, see Figs. 6 and '7, as above-described in connec-l tion with the rib 31, and the rib 42 has serrations 42l as above-described in connection with the rib SS; the section 28 having a channel 44 corresponding to the channel 40.

The drop-lid is of adequate height in substantially all installations if made up of the upper and lower sections 28 and28, and an intervening panel 25. Said panel, it will be noted, is of standard strip cross-section, and so can be readily supplied in varying widths at low cost and without special equipment of any kind, so that when specially desired the width of the drop-lid may be made exactly as specified merely by employing a panel 29 of appropriate width. Said panel is directly coupled with the sections 28 Iand 28 merely by pressing the longitudinalupper and lower marginal portions of the panel into the grooves 38 and 43. No special securement is here required, in View of other provisions, in part including the aforesaid serrations, and in part including means now to be described. y

Said means includes the two clamp-bars 30 and 3i, placed respectively inthe channels 4D and 44, a tie-bar or plate 45, serrations 3l)a and 3| a on the clamp-bars for inter-engagement with the serrations first-described. a-suitable number of screws 46 horizontally spaced along the droplid and sent through apertures in the tie-plate 45 and thence into tapped holes through the clamp-bars 35 and 3 l. `Thus the clamp-bars may be locked in place in the channels 40 and 44, and

- at the same time the panel 29 may be held properly in place between the sections 28 and 28'. even though the said panel may be of one or another of differing widths; in which last connection note that the apertures provided in the tie-plate 45 for the screws to be engaged with the clamp-bar 3l may be in the form of Vertically elongated slots 41.

The mechanism illustrated for raising and lowering the drop-lid includes a swing-plate 48, of a width to impart an efliciently wide-spread lift to the drop-lid when the latter is to be raised. This swing-plateis hung on a shaft 49, for inward or outward swing when said shaft is fractionally rotated, as by being secured to the shaft by means of upward end extensions 58 and 5|. see Figs. 2 and 3 from the swing-plate curled over and suitably secured to spaced points along the shaft as by set-screws 52. The swing-plate 48 at its bottom may carry one or more loosely revoluble rollers 53.

For coupling the swing-plate 48 and the tieplate 45, thereby to hingedly mount the droplid on the shaft 49, a means is employed, also constituting a special feature of the invention, comprising an aperture 54, a screw 55 having va head 56 larger than the aperture 54, and sleeved by an expansile coil spring 51. The screw 55 is sent into a tapped hole through the tie-plate 45. Thereby a constant tension is provided for the screw 55, to prevent loosening thereof, to permit length adjustment, and to afford a finger guide.

Fixed to the shaft 49 as at sa (Fig. 3), is a' worm-gear segment 59, with which meshes a worm 6U secured as at 6I to a stub-shaft 62. The upper portion of said shaft is journalled in an aperture 63 through the bottom wall of a cagecasting 64 within which the worm 60 is housed; and the top of the shaft 62 is reduced as at 65 and there journalled in an aperture through the top wall of the cage-casting. Offset from said cage-casting is a ange 66, by way of which the cage-casting is secured to a web 61 of a bracket G8 suitably ixed at the upper interior of the awning box as by the bolts indicated at 69.

The said securement of the cage-casting 64 to the bracket 68 allows for angular adjustment of the cage-casting relative to the bracket; the cagecasting being secured to the bracket by a screw 10, passed through a washer 1| and thence through an arcuate slot 12 carried by the brackets web 61 and thence into a tapped hole 13 in the flange 66 of the cage-casting. y

The stub-shaft 52 is forwardly downwardly inclined for slight projection below the foundation 2| as shown in Fig. 2. To the lower end of said shaft is secured, as at 14, a hook 15; said hook being shown as the same as the conventional hook ordinarily carried at the bottom of the stub-shaft 26 in previous installations where the latter only was present, for the purpose, as already explained, of being turned in one direction or the other for winding up or lowering the awning.

Reverting to the shaft 49, for raising or lowering the drop-lid, when, by applying to the hook 15 a rod similar to the aforesaid long rod with a crank-like offset near its lower end, the stub-shaft 62 is rotated to turn the worm 60,

thereby through the worm-gear segmentf 593; to'- rocli' the said shaft 129", the latter may be ot any length appropriate to the width of the swingplated` and may be supported at its' end remote from the bracket 68 in any convenientV way, as by anr'additionalbracket as indicated at iti Referring now more particularly to the auxiliary means incorporating the channel member 23 and the rocker member 2li', note that the member 23 has its channel-mouth outwardly and downwardly directed, and that the width of said mouth is greater than the diameter of the rocker member 2d so that the rocker member can be engaged therethrough and into the channel of the member 23. A strip 'Vi of spring steel orkaluminum alloy, is mounted on the channel member 23 partially closing its open mouth to retain the rocker member 2li in position iny the channel member. The strip 'il is engaged along its bottom longitudinal marginal portion. with the bottom horn 18 of the member 23, and along its top' longitudinal marginal portion with a rib TB extending longitudinally of the channel member 23 and projected therefrom toward the interior of the awning box.

Thus, in assembling the new means auxiliaryv to the hinge means, all that is required is to insert the member 2G into the member 2-3 as just explained, and then snap into place the strip 1l.

rI'he member 2li has, extending longitudinally thereof, an upper downwardly and inwardly directed horn liti, and, also extending longitudinally thereof, a rearwardly projected rib 8&3, while said member 2, at its outer side, has a rain-water shedding declivity 3i starting at its top about opposite the root of the rib 8E and ending at its bottom at the outer face of the section 28 of theV drop-lid and well beyond the member 2'3 at its said channel-mouth. With the lid closed, the parts are arranged as shown in the drawing, but with the weight of the drop-lid carried wholly by the shaft 49. Such weight is always thus carried, too, while the drop-lid is raised, and while it is being raised or lowered. In raising the drop-lid, as the horn E9 leaves close adjacencg7 to the upper limit of the channel-mouth, the rib Bilv travels down opposite and in close adja-v cency tothe upper surface of the horn 18;' andin lowering the drop-lid, as' the rib Bit travels beyondthe upper surface of the horn i8 the horn 19 returns to close adjacency to the upper limit of the channel-mouth.

The new awning box, therefore, is well adapted to satisfy all the objects hereinabove rst recited; and is characterized further by all the features and advantages elsewhere hereinabove pointed out.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed andthe right is reserved toall changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as delne'd in the 'appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, whatJI claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. In an .awning box having an open front side and a top wall, a droplid for closing the open. front side, comprising an upper section having a bottom groove, means pivotally attaching the` top of said upper section to the top Wall at the top of the open vfront side, alower section havinga top groove, a panel between `said sections` having' its" top and bottom edges insertedE into"- y front side, comprising an upper section having a bottom groove, means pivotally attaching the topof said upper section tothe top wall at the top of the open front side, a lower'section having a top groove, a panel between said `sections having its top and bottom edges inserted into said grooves, a tie-plate extended across the inner faces of said sections, and means securing saidv sections to said tie-plate to hold said sections properly spaced and retainthe top and" bottom edges of said panel in said grooves, said securing means comprising spaced rib formations on the inner faces of said sections forming channels, a

clamp-bar in each of saidV channels, and means securing said tie-plates to" said'" clamp-bars.

3. In an awning'box having an open front side and a top wall, a drop lid for closing the open front side, comprising an upper section having a bottom groove, means pivotally attaching the top of said upper section to' the'top wall at the top of the open front side, a lower section' having a top groove, a panel between saidA sections having its top and bottom edges inserted intoy said' grooves, a tie-plate extended across the inner faces of said sections, andv means securing said sections to said tie-plate to hold said sections properly spaced and retain the top and bottom edges of said panel in said grooves, said securing means comprising spaced; rib formations on the inner faces of said' sections forming channels, a clamp-bar in each of said channels, and` means securing said tie-plates to said clamp-bars, each of said rib formations including a main portion extending at right angles from its associated section and an angularly extending portion having an inner face facing the inner face of its asso- A ciated section;

4. In an awning box having an open front'side anda top wall, a drop lid for closing the open front side, comprising an upper section having a bottom groove, meanspivotally'attaching the top of said upper section Ato the top wall at the top of the open front side, a lower section having a top groove, a panel between said sections 'having its top and bottom edges inserted into said grooves, a tie-plate extended across the inner faces of said sections, and means securing said sections to said tie-plate to hold said sections properly spaced and retain the top and bottom edges of said panel in said grooves, said securing means comprising spaced rib formations on the inner faces of said sections forming channels, a clamp-bar in each of said channels, and means Securing said tie-plates to said clamp-bars, each of said rib formations including a main portion extending at right angles from its associated section and an angularly extending portion having an inner face facing the inner face of its associated section, said channels being substantially C-shaped in cross-section, said clamp-bars being wider than the mouth openingszof said C-shaped channels, serrations on the inner faces ofA -the angularly extending portions of said rib formations, and complementary serrationson the ad'- jacent faces of 'said clamp-bars and engaging said serrations.

5. Inan awning box-:having anfopenzfrontside and atop Wall, a drop lid for closing the open front side, comprising an upper section having a bottom groove, means pivotally attaching the top of said upper section to the top wall at the top of the open front side, a lower section having a top groove, a panel between said sections having its top and bottom edges inserted into said grooves, a tie-plate extended across the inner faces of said sections, and means securing said sections to said tie-plate to hold said sections properly spaced and retain the top and bottom edges of said panel in said grooves, said securing means comprising spaced rib formations on the inner faces of said sections forming channels, a clamp-bar in each`of said channels, and means securing said tie-plates to said clamp-bars, each of Said rib formations including a main portion extending at right angles from its associated section and an angularly extending portion having an inner face facing the inner face of its associated section, said channel being substantially C-shaped in cross-section, said clamp-bars being wider than the mouth openings of said C-shaped channels, serrations on the inner faces of the angularly extending portions of said rib formations, and complementary serrations on the adjacent faces of said clamp-bars and engaging said serrations, said serrations and said complementary serrations being extended vertically.

6. In an awning box having an open front side and a top wall, a drop lid for closing the open front side, comprising an upper section having a bottom groove, means pivotally attaching the top of said upper section to the top wall at the top of the open front side, a lower section having a top groove, a panel between said sections having its top and bottom edges inserted into said grooves, a tie-plate extended across the inner faces of said sections, and means securing said sections to said tie-plate to hold said sections properly spaced and retain the top and bottom edges of said panel in said grooves, said securing means comprising spaced rib formations on the inner faces of said sections forming channels, a clamp-bar in each of said channels, and means securing said tie-plates to said clamp-bars, each of said rib formations including a main portion extending at right angles from its associated section and an angularly extending portion having an inner face facing the inner face of its associated section, said channels being substantially C-shaped in cross-section, said clamp-bars being Wider than the mouth openings of said C-shaped channels, serrations on the inner faces of the angularly extending portions of said rib formations, and complementary serrations on the adjacent faces of said clamp-bars and engaging said serrations, said serrations and said complementary serrations being extended vertically, said securing means securing said tie-plate to said clamp-bars including threaded elements engaged through said tie-plate and said clamp-pars.

7. In an awning box having an open front side and a top wall, a drop lid for closing the open front side, comprising an upper section having a bottom groove, means pivotally attaching the top of said upper section to the top wall at the top of the open front side, a lower section having a top groove, a panel between said sections having its top and botom edges inserted into said grooves, a tie-plate having elongated slots therein and extending across the inner faces of said sections, and means securing said sections to said tie-plate to hold said sections properly spaced and retain the top and bottom edges of said panel in said grooves, said securing means comprising spaced rib formations on the inner faces of said sections forming channels, a clampbar in each of said channels, and means securing said tie-plates to said clamp-bars, each of said rib formations including a main portion extending at right angles from its associated section and an angularly extending portion having an inner face facing the inner face of its associated section, said channels being substantially C- shaped in cross-section, said clamp-bars being wider than the mouth openings of said C-shaped channels, serrations on the inner faces of the angularly extending portions of said rib formations, and complementary serrations on the adjacent faces of said clamp-bars and engaging said serrations, said serrations and said complementary serrations being extended vertically, said securing means securing said tie-plate to said clamp-bars including threaded elements engaged through said tie-plate and said clampbars, said threaded elements being extended through said elongated slots in said tie-plate and extended at right angles to the widths of said sections so that said sections can be spaced for the reception of panels of different widths therebetween.

8. In an awning box having an open front side and a top wall, a drop lid for closing the open front side, comprising an upper section having a bottom groove, means pivotally attaching the top of said upper section to the top wall at the top of the open front side, a lower section having a top groove, a panel between said sections having its top and bottom edges inserted into said grooves, a tie-plate extended across the inner faces of said sections, and means securing said sections to said tie-plate to hold said sections properly spaced and retain the tcp and bottom edges of said panel in said grooves, and manually operative means connected to said lower section for swinging vthe lid to an open position,

9. In an awning box having an open front side and a top wall, a drop lid for closing the open front side, comprising an upper section having a bottom groove, means pivotally attaching the top of said upper section to the top wall at the top of the open front side, a lower section having a top groove, a panel between said sections having its top and bottom edges inserted into said grooves, a tie-plate extended across the inner faces of said sections, and means securing said sections to said tie-plate to hold said sections properly spaced and retain the top and bottom edges of said panel in said grooves, said pivotal attaching means comprising a C-shaped channel member mounted on the top wall, and a rocker member on the top of said upper section and turnably engaged in said channel member.

10. In an awning box having an open front side and a top wall, a drop lid for closing the open front side, comprising an upper section having a bottom groove, means pivotally attaching the top of said upper section to the top Wall at the top of the open front side, a lower section having a top groove, a panel between said sections having its top and bottom edges inserted into said grooves, a tie-plate extended across the inner faces of said sections, and means securing said sections to Said tie-plate to hold said sections properly spaced and retain the top and bottom edges of said panel in said grooves, said pivotal attaching means comprising a C-shaped channel member mounted on the top wall, and a rocker member on the top of said upper section and turnably engaged in said channel member, said rocker member being integrally formed on the top of said upper section.

11. In an awning box having an open front side and a top wall, a drop lid for closing'the open front side, comprising an upper section having a bo `tom groove, means pivotally attaching the top of said 'upper section to the top wall at the top of the open front side, a lower section having a top groove, a panel between said sections having its top and bottom edges inserted inlo said grooves, a tie-plate extended across the inner faces of said sections, and means securing said sections to said tie-plate to hold said sections properly spaced .and retain the top and bottom edges of said panel in said grooves, said pivotal attaching means comprising a C-shaped channel member mounted on the top Wall, and a rocker member on the top of said upper section and turnably engaged in said channelmember, said C-shaped channel member having its open side faced downwardly and slightly outwardly.

12. In an awning box having an open front side and a top wall, a drop lid for closing the open front side, comprising an upper section having a edges of said panel in said grooves, said pivotal attaching means comprising a C-shaped channel member mounted on the top wall, and a rocker member on the top of said upper section and turnably engaged in said channel member, said C-shaped channel member having its open side .lo

faced downwardly and slightly outwardly, said open side of said C-shaped channel having a 10 width less than the diameter of said rocker member but greater than the thickness of the junction of said rocker member and said upper section where it passes through said open side permitting pivotal movement of the lid through a wide range.

13. n an awning box having an open front side and a top wall, a drop lid for closing the open front side, comprising an upper section having .a

`bottom groove, means pivot-ally attaching the top of said upper section to the top wall at the top of the open front side, a lower section having a top groove, a panel between said sections having its top and bot.om edges inserted into said grooves,

engaged in said channel member, said C-shaped `channel member having its open side faced down wardly and slightly outwardly, said open side of 'said C-shaped channel having a width greater than the diameter of said rocker member so that said rocker member can be engaged into said C-shaped channel, and a strip mounted on said C-shaped channel for partially closing its open side for retaining said rocker element in said C-shaped channel.

ERROL P. DAZZO.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sohane Mar. 29 193g Number 

